In die andere Richtung jetzt – Eine Reise durch Ostafrika

In the organizer's words:

Navid Kermani's journey into the heart of darkness - reports from the global South

Navid Kermani has traveled from the south of Madagascar to the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. He brings East Africa to life carefully, through sensitively observed detail, without grand theories. But at the same time, from a new perspective, Kermani also reflects on the issues of our present day, on climate change, war and identity as well as the fundamental questions of existence.

To this day, Africa is considered the "forgotten continent", although it has been the most contested continent since the 19th century at the latest. European colonial powers have left deep wounds here. The Arab North carries its religion and culture to the South, often by force. China and the West compete for natural resources and influence. Africa is forgotten, especially where there is nothing to be gained, for example in Madagascar. This is where the United Nations declared the first famine caused by climate change. This is where Navid Kermani's journey for DIE ZEIT begins. It takes him via the Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia to Sudan. Where other writers sought originality, Kermani discovers populations and cultures on the move, often fleeing war and drought. Above all, however, they have always creatively taken up new cultural influences and made them their own. Nowhere is this more evident than in music. It forms the secret leitmotif of this brilliantly written book, which follows an irresistible literary rhythm.